Protect Your Privacy While Having Fun with Facebook Quizzes

  If you are active on social media, you probably have seen quizzes on Facebook. You may even have taken some of the Facebook quizzes yourself. They can be fun as you learn the answers to many questions. How else can you find out: Which movie character is most like you? What’s the best city for you to live in? Who is your best friend on Facebook? But when taking a Facebook quiz, you may be sharing more information than you get. When you answer the questions, you may be giving up access to your entire Facebook account, including your list of friends. Most Used Words Quiz Recently, a Korean company called Vonvon offered a Facebook quiz that showed the Most Used Words in your Facebook timeline. By taking the quiz, you could see the words used most on your timeline in a word cloud that you could then post on Facebook. The quiz was taken and shared by over 17 million people on Facebook. Emma, an American college student, took the quiz right after her birthday last month and posted her Most Used Words results on her Facebook timeline. Like most people who took the quiz, Emma failed to read Vonvon’s privacy policy before she answered the questions. The website Comparitech posted an article comparing the “most used words” Facebook quiz to a privacy nightmare. The report explained that by using the Most Used Words quiz you are giving the Korean company rights to gain access to: Your name, profile picture, age, sex, birthday, and other public information; Your entire friend list; Everything you ever posted on your timeline; All of your photographs and photos you are tagged in; Your education history; Your hometown and current city; Everything you have ever “liked”; Your IP address; And information about the device you are using, including browser and language. If you did not agree to share this information, you could not take the Facebook quiz. The article continued by explaining what Vonvon could do with all of the information it collected on you. The company could sell the information to third parties and use your information, even after you have ended your relationship with them. Vonvon responded to Comparitech. The article was updated two days later with Vonvon's response. The Korean company stated that it did not plan to sell information to third parties. It also changed its privacy policy since the article was published. Protecting Your Privacy on Facebook Whether or not Vonvon sells Facebook information to third parties is not really the issue. Even if Vonvon does not sell your information, some other company could. Businesses can receive permission to get even more information from you and to post on your Facebook timeline if you give them access to your account. Do you read the privacy policy before you take a quiz? Probably not, and companies may rely on that. Do you change the permissions you give a company? If so, you may be limiting the ability for quizzes to work. Think again before giving permission to access your Facebook account. Does the company really need that information? Is taking a quiz worth giving up your privacy? You Don't Have to Give Up on Quizzes You can still have fun taking quizzes without giving up your privacy on Facebook. Look for quizzes that do not ask for Facebook permissions. For example, the Buzzfeed website has Facebook quizzes that ask you questions, letting you choose between several answers to learn information about yourself, such as Which City Do You Belong in Based on Your Favorite Color?  If a quiz does ask for permission to access your Facebook account, perhaps you should find a different quiz. Cleaning Up Your Permissions Take a few minutes now to clean up your permissions on Facebook. Go to the Facebook Apps Permissions page to see which apps have permission to access your Facebook account. Click on the X icon to remove permissions for any app you're not using any more. Click on the pencil icon to change permissions for that app. You can see what permissions the app has and change them to the way you want. I’m Pete Musto.    Carolyn Nicander Mohr wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Do you like to take Facebook quizzes? Have you ever thought about what permissions you were giving when you took the quiz? Have you ever read a privacy policy before taking a quiz? Share your thoughts in the Comments Section below or on our Facebook page! * Quiz image courtesy of Stuart Miles via Freedigitalphotos.net ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   quiz – n. a set of questions about a particular subject that people try to answer as a game or competition character - n. a person in a play or movie access - n. permission or the right to enter, get near, or make use of something or to have contact with someone timeline - n. The place on Facebook where you can see your own posts, posts from friends and stories you're tagged in organized by the date they were posted word cloud - n. an image of words used in a place, in which the size of each word shows how often that word is used nightmare- n. a very bad or frightening experience or situation profile - n. Your Facebook profile, is your collection of the photos, stories and experiences that tell your story tag - n. a label attached to someone or something for the purpose of identification or to give other information IP address - n. ta code made up of numbers separated by three dots that identifies a particular computer on the Internet browser - n. a computer program that is used to find and look at information on the Internet third party - n. someone who is not one of the two main people involved in a legal agreement but who is still affected by it in some way respond - v. to do something as a reaction to something that has happened or been done​ update - v. to change (something) by including the most recent information​ app -. n. a computer program that performs a particular task icon - n. a small picture on a computer screen that represents a program or function  

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Angela Merkel Named Time’s 'Person of the Year'

Time magazine has named German Chancellor Angela Merkel its “Person of the Year” for 2015. Merkel recently observed the 10th anniversary of being leader of Europe’s largest economy. She has been called the most powerful woman in the world. And she is the first woman to lead Germany. Time magazine praised “her resilience and leadership when faced with the Syrian refugee crisis and turmoil in the European Union over its currency this year.” Time’s Nancy Gibbs said the 61-year-old leader has emerged as an “indispensable player” in Europe.   Gibbs also said she was named, "For asking more of her country than most politicians would dare, for standing firm against tyranny.” Merkel was elected to her position in November 2005 as head of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The future leader was the daughter of a religious worker in East Germany. She received a doctorate in chemistry, not politics. She became involved in politics after the fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification of Germany in 1989. She became head of the Christian Democratic Union in 2000. In her early years as chancellor, Merkel was often criticized for “leading from behind” and avoiding conflict. In recent years, crises have tested German politics and the country’s people. The Greek financial crisis threatened not only the southern European nation’s creditors, but the euro itself. The euro is the common currency used by 19 European Union nations. Germany demanded tough spending cuts of Eurozone countries, like Greece, seeking financial rescues. Greece has received three bailouts, each after difficult negotiations. In its explanation of choosing Merkel as its “person of the year,” Time noted other European crises such as Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Time said Merkel provided leadership in the West’s response to, what it called, Vladimir Putin’s “creeping theft of Ukraine.” She has enjoyed wide popularity in Germany where some call her “mutti,” or mommy. She has been able to use that popularity to support the acceptance of hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants from the Middle East. While many countries built barriers to refugees, she continued to offer to take them in. Time said she avoided "the reflex to slam doors, build walls and trust no one." Merkel was chosen from a list that included Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. I’m Mario Ritter. Audio for this story to follow. Mario Ritter wrote this story using materials from AP and VOA news. Kathleen Struck was the editor. What do you think of Merkel as "Person of the Year?" Please let us know what you think in the Comments section and on our Facebook page, thanks! ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   resilience –n. the ability to become healthy and strong after something bad happens turmoil –n. a state of confusion or disorder annexation –n. to take control of a territory indispensable –adj. extremely important or necessary reflex –n. something done without thinking in reaction to some event or action

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Who is Buried in Queen Nefertiti's Tomb?

  She was known for her beauty. Mystery still surrounds her death. For thousands of years, people wondered: What happened to Queen Nefertiti?  She lived and died in the 14th century B.C. But where is her body buried? It remains a mystery. People have guessed and searched, but always come up empty-handed. Now, archaeologists think they might be close to an answer … She might be behind this wall, in a hidden chamber, or room, inside King Tutankhamun’s tomb. He’s better known as King Tut. Tut is famous for the discovery of his tomb — found undisturbed, while many others were robbed years ago. An X-ray machine was brought in to help in the search. With cameras recording the event, a Japanese radar specialist used modern technology to get an ancient tomb to give up its secrets. Egyptian Antiquities Minister Mamdouh al-Damaty told reporters recently that before the X-ray scans, there was a 60 percent chance that something was behind those walls. Now, he says, “it’s 90 percent likely there is something behind these walls.” British Archaeologist Nicolas Reeves has been investigating. “The proposal I put forward was that the burial of Tutankhamun was actually a tomb within a tomb.” But why King Tut’s tomb? King Tut died when he was only 19 years old. Queen Nefertiti, his step-mother, had died earlier.  There might not have been time to build Tut his own tomb, so some believe he is actually buried in a chamber off a larger tomb. Was it Nefertiti’s?  King Tut’s tomb is smaller than other pharaohs. Experts ask: Why is it shaped more like those of Egyptian queens of the time? The next step to finding these answers is a month-long analysis of the X-rays in Japan. Then the exploration continues in Luxor. If the mystery is solved, if, indeed it is Nefertiti’s tomb, it will be the largest discovery in Egypt in a long time. And that could mean more tourists will return to the Valley of the Kings. I’m Anne Ball.   What do you think of this mystery? Do you like Egyptian history? We want to hear from you. Send us a message in the Comments section or on our Facebook page. Anne Ball wrote this story. Kathleen Struck was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   empty-handed -- adj. did not get anything archaeologist – n.  a person who studies past human life and activities by studying the bones, tools, etc., of ancient people tomb – n. a place where bodies are buried X-ray scan –n. pictures made by an X-ray machine

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Oil Prices Down, But Production Stays Up

Oil prices have fallen to their lowest levels since 2009. Brent crude oil, one of several kinds of oil on the world market, dropped below $40 a barrel on Tuesday. However, the main group of oil producing countries has been unable to reduce production to limit supply. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) met in Vienna last week. OPEC said members should be part of climate change-related talks such as the COP-21 meeting in Paris. The group also called on members to maintain, in its words, an “energy dialogue” with countries that produce oil but are not OPEC members. About two-thirds of oil production is carried out by non-OPEC countries. But, the 13 member countries could not agree on any production cuts. OPEC oil production continues at record levels. An OPEC report says the group’s oil production increased to over 31 million barrels of oil per day. Some experts say OPEC member Saudi Arabia continues its production levels to keep competitors from gaining market share. Some producers in the United States use techniques like hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, to increase oil output. However, that method costs more than the traditional drilling techniques used in many other countries. These may include the indirect costs of pollution to ground water or very small earthquakes in some places. OPEC says it continues its high production levels because it believes demand will increase in the coming year. Experts say worldwide demand for crude, or unprocessed oil, is already about 2 million barrels a day below the current supply. That has led to some markets to have more oil than needed. That oversupply may grow as international sanctions on Iranian exports are lessened. Iran is an OPEC member. Indonesia also became a full member of the oil group at the December meeting. Demand for oil has been decreasing as economic activity in many important areas around the world has slowed. Economic growth slowed in the group of 19 nations that use the euro as money from July to September. Growth in the Eurozone was 0.3 percent during that period. Slowing demand in China has also been blamed for low oil prices. China is the world’s second-largest economy. Economic growth in China has slowed to a yearly rate of 6.9 percent, the country’s lowest growth since 2009. I’m Mario Ritter. Mario Ritter wrote this report. It includes materials from Jim Randle. Kathleen Struck was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   barrel –n. a standard measurement for oil dialogue –n. a discussion or series of discussions that groups or countries have to lessen differences hydraulic fracturing –n. a process of drilling for oil in which fluids are pumped into the ground in order to get more oil crude –adj. unprocessed, raw

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Google Brings High-Speed Internet to Uganda’s Capital

Technology company Google has brought reliable Internet connections to Kampala, Uganda. Google is expanding high-speed Internet in the city, the company said. The project includes 120 locations in the Ugandan capital. It is part of an attempt to improve web infrastructure in Africa. Higher capacity means faster and cheaper access to customers. One day of unlimited data using the new network should cost 1,000 Ugandan shillings, the company said. That is equal to 30 American cents. About 8.5 million people use the Internet in Uganda. That is about 23 percent of the country’s population. Many in that country use cellular phone technology, but Internet service is not popular because it was expensive before Google’s Project Link. Broadband access to the Internet is still hard to find in many places in Africa. Project Link moved into the Ghana cities of Accra and Kumasi this autumn. Other big players on the Internet also aided Africa. Social media’s Facebook announced this fall better access to the Internet in Africa by using satellites. Jim Dresbach wrote this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. What piece of technology can you not do without? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   cellular – adj. relating to a system that uses radio waves instead of wires to send telephone signals broadband – n. a fast electronic network that carries more than one type of communication such as Internet and cable television signals satellite – n. a machine that is sent into space and that moves around the earth, moon, sun or a planet. Satellites are used for radio, television and other types of communication

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Pistorius Granted Bail in South Africa, Awaits New Sentence

A South African judge has granted bail to athlete Oscar Pistorius, after an appeals court last week convicted him of murder. The double-leg amputee and Olympic sprinter will remain under house arrest while awaiting a new sentence. He was convicted of murder for shooting his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in 2013. The appeals court overturned a manslaughter ruling against Pistorius last Thursday. The new murder charge carries a minimum 15 years in prison. The Paralympic track and field star plans to take the case to South Africa’s Constitutional Court for review, according to his lawyer. The constitutional court is the highest court in South Africa. This past October, Pistorius was released from prison. He served less than one year of the five-year term behind bars. He was to serve the rest of the culpable murder sentence under house arrest. Pistorius will again appear in court April 18 to go over the next steps in the legal process. The Olympian is not considered a flight risk. He will be issued an electronic monitoring device. I'm Mario Ritter.  The staff of VOA News wrote this story. Jim Dresbach adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Are you or were you a fan of Oscar Pistorius? Has that changed since his murder conviction? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   bail – n. an amount of money given to a court to allow a prisoner to leave jail and return later for a trial conviction – n. the act of proving that a person is guilty of a crime in a court of law Paralympic -- n. an athlete with a physical condition who participates in sports competition with similar persons   amputee – n. a person who has had an arm or leg amputated sprinter – n. a person who runs or goes very fast for a short distance manslaughter – n. the crime of killing a person without intending to do so culpable – adj. guilty of doing something wrong

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VOA English Newscast: 2000 UTC, December 8 2015

I’m David Deforest reporting. Trump gains opposition.  Republican U.S. presidential frontrunner Donald Trump is drawing rebukes from across the world for proposing a total ban on Muslims entering the United States.  Trump said the ban should be in effect until the country's leaders can (in his words) "figure out what is going on" about possible new terrorist attacks. White House spokesman Josh Earnest on Tuesday called Trump's rhetoric "offensive and toxic. The Federal Bureau of Investigation says the husband and wife who killed 14 people and wounded 21 in the U.S. state of California practiced shooting before the attack and had been radicalized "for some time." Federal officials say Tashfeen Malik pledged allegiance to an IS militant leader in a Facebook post and her husband, Syed Rizwan Farook, had contact with individuals linked to terrorist groups. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says he is hopeful that talks will be held next week on ending the war in Syria. Speaking after a meeting with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in Paris, Kerry said the talks, scheduled for December 18 in New York, will depend on events in the coming week, including a Saudi-led conference of the Syrian opposition. A South African judge has granted bail to Oscar Pistorius. “The applicant is released on bail of 10,000 rand. Accused, submit to the house arrest.” The Olympic athlete appeared in court Tuesday to hear whether he could remain under house arrest while awaiting new sentencing. An appeals court last week convicted him of murder in the 2013 shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. This is VOA News. _____________________________________________________ Words in This Newcast Rebuke –v. to speak in an angry or critical way figure out –v. to understand or find something out rhetoric –n. language that is intended to influence people toxic –adj. a poisonous substance radicalize –v. to become radical or extreme   allegiance –n. loyalty to a person, country or group grant –v. to give legally or formally

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Donald Trump, John Lennon, and #InternetTheBeatles

  #TrumpOnCNN Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is all over social media today because of comments he made Monday. Trump called for the U.S. to temporarily ban all Muslims from entering the country. He said a ban was necessary to protect the U.S. from more terror attacks. American leaders, Democrats and even fellow Republican presidential candidates quickly slammed Trump’s ideas. Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney said Trump’s proposed ban “goes against everything we stand for.” Trump defended his comments Tuesday morning on CNN. Soon after, #TrumpOnCNN trended on Twitter. White House spokesman Josh Earnest answered questions from reporters Tuesday about Trump’s comments. Earnest said the proposal “disqualifies him from serving as president.” By Tuesday afternoon, “Josh Earnest” was trending on Facebook. After the White House spokesman’s remarks, Twitter threw a #TrumpIsDisqualfiedParty. People posted pictures of celebrities arriving at Hollywood parties, saying they were arriving the Trump Disqualified Party. It was unclear whether some Twitter users actually believed that the White House could disqualify a presidential candidate. (To be clear: it cannot.) But Twitter had fun with it anyway.   The Philadelphia Daily News on Tuesday compared Trump to Adolf Hitler. Its cover photo showed Trump with his right arm extended, in a way similar to the Nazi salute. ​The title read: “The New Furor.” #JohnLennon Today marked the 35th anniversary of the death of British musician John Lennon. The former Beatles star was shot and killed on December 8, 1980 in New York City.   Lennon’s widow, artist and activist Yoko Ono, tweeted today about gun violence in America. She wrote, “Over 1,100,000 people killed by guns in the USA since John Lennon was shot and killed on December 8, 1980.” She ended her message with the hashtag #StopGunViolence. ​On Twitter, #JohnLennon trended worldwide. People tweeted photos, videos, and old newspaper stories to celebrate Lennon’s life music. ​ ​Another #JohnLennon-inspired trend on Twitter today was #InternetTheBeatles. People played with the names of famous Beatles songs and modernized them to include Internet-related vocabulary. The Twitter handle NewMen_Look came up with “Get By With A Little Help from My Friend Requests.” The original Beatles song is titled “Get By With A Little Help From My Friends." ​Twitter user Hal Sparks wrote “Tweet and Shout,” a play on the Beatles song “Twist and Shout.” And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Ashley Thompson. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story temporarily - adv. continuing for a limited amount of time slam - v. to criticize (someone or something) harshly widow - n. a woman whose husband has died  

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Weathercasters Predict a New 'The Dress'

  Among TV meteorologists, it is known as “The Dress.” Not that dress -- the one that made its way around the Internet in February with lots of people debating the garment's true color. This is a new one. The dress was rated a bargain a few weeks back by Dallas, Texas, TV meteorologist Jennifer Myers. She rated it on a Facebook page where female weathercasters discuss their jobs. And she posted a photo of “The Dress.” “I bought today’s dress on Amazon for $23,” Myers wrote on Facebook. “Someone posted a link to it on our broadcast meteorologist group Facebook page and it got really popular.” Then, something amazing happened. Women meteorologists by the dozens brought the dress and wore it on television. Myers posted a montage of more than 40 weathercasters from across the United States wearing “her” dress. Meteorologists said the dress had great appeal. It is fashionable and comes at a low price. Affordability is important because the vast majority of weathercasters and TV news reporters do not get a fashion allowance, some meteorologists said. Lyndsay Tapases, a meteorologist at WBTV in Charlotte, North Carolina, said: “I'm not sure there's an answer to how we are expected to look good on air without an allowance. I think it's more that you just know going in that it's the nature of the job: You're going to need to figure out a way to look professional on air while on a tight budget because that's what's going to be expected of you.” April Warnecke, a meteorologist for 3TV in Phoenix, Arizona, bought two of the dresses in different colors. She likes the dress for its low price, and because it “looks good” on TV. Still, it frustrates her so much attention is devoted to how women meteorologists look. Said Warnecke: “We are in charge of our own wardrobe, and none of us wants to spend most of our paycheck on clothes. We’d also rather focus our time on the forecast and not what we’re wearing. Most of us are degreed meteorologists who put hours each day into forecasting, and yet often the feedback we get from viewers is only about our appearance.” Some meteorologists used the attention being paid to the dress to raise money for the charity, “Dress for Success.” The charity provides low-income people with the business-style clothing they need for some job interviews. There have also been several postings on Twitter of an altered photo showing NBC TV weather personality Al Roker wearing the dress. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for a TV meteorologist in 2010 was $80,250. Salaries are higher in big markets such as New York and Los Angeles, and lower in smaller markets. In some markets, salaries are so low that meteorologists need second jobs to meet their living expenses, Tapases said. The discussions on the private Facebook Page for women meteorologists are not all about fashion. “In the group we discuss fashion and makeup, yes," said Tapases. “But also everything from tips on our computer systems and graphics, how we differently handle our crazy work/sleep schedules, how we make our relationships work with moving around so frequently, potential job openings, and all of the other unique ins and outs of the business.” The other topics include,Tapases said, “contract negotiations, agents, how to keep ourselves safe as females in the broadcasting business, how to handle viewer hate mail, etc.”  Cheryl Nelson, a freelance meteorologist in Virginia, said the job is not as glamorous as some think. “Many broadcast meteorologists work more than eight hours a day -- especially during active weather,” Nelson said. “We make our own forecasts and weather graphics. We update the website, social media, weather blogs, etc. Unless a meteorologist is in a top market, we all do our own hair and make-up. ... We have perfected multi-tasking.” I'm Caty Weaver. Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or share your views on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   meteorologist – n. a person with a college degree in the science that allows him/her to predict and report on the weather garment – n. a piece of clothing bargain – n. something bought or sold at a good price weathercaster – n. Someone who predicts the weather fashionable – adj. currently popular allowance – n. an amount of money that is given to someone regularly or for a specific purpose wardrobe – n. a collection of clothes that a person owns or wears paycheck – n. a check that is used to pay an employee for his or her work charity – n. an organization that helps people who are poor, sick, etc. altered – adj. change in appearance median – adj. the middle value in a series of values arranged from smallest to largest expenses – n. the amount of money that is needed to pay for or buy something freelance – adj. earning money by being hired to work on different jobs for short periods of time rather than by having a permanent job with one employer  

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One School, Five Languages

In New York City public schools, 176 different languages are spoken among the more than 1 million students. For 160,000 children, English is not their first language. New York’s Department of Education makes learning better for these students by providing dual-language programs. Students are taught in two languages, English and another one, like Russian or Chinese. Math, social studies, science and all other regular courses are taught in both languages. And they learn about the culture of the other country. Milady Baez is Deputy Chancellor of English Language Learners and Student Support. She says these dual-language programs will help children succeed in the future. "The jobs of the future require that our students know more than one language. They are going to be traveling abroad, they are going to be communicating with people from all over the world. This will open doors for them.” David A. Booty Middle School in Brooklyn offers dual language education in four languages: Russian, Mandarin, Spanish and Hebrew. Shuya Zhang teaches a dual language class. She says the program helps children get ready to work with people in other countries. "Look at now-a-days, America started economic relationships with China. Lots of factories have been built, companies moved to China. They need people with the skills with both language skills so the kids when they are grown up, they already have this skill.” Middle-schoolers might not have jobs on their minds yet. For Kequing Jaing, she likes keeping up her first language, Mandarin. “It makes me, like,  feel that I am home because I can speak in Chinese, learn in Chinese, while learning in English. So it makes me feel better and makes me understand more about the task I’m learning.” Anastasia Hudikova came to the United States when she was 2 years old.  She says the Russian-English program keeps her connected to her heritage and her parents happy. “They’re really happy about the program that it exists. They are really happy that I can preserve my culture and my language, that I can speak it fluently in school.” The New York schools also offer dual-language programs in seven other languages: Arabic, French, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Korean, Polish and Spanish. There are plans to add even more languages in the future. While these dual-language programs are popular, some groups in the U.S. say teaching English comes first. U.S. English wants to make English the official language of the United States. “We have no problem with folks speaking multiple languages … if people want to speak a different language at home,” says Todd DuBois with U.S. English. “What we do think is schools should prioritize English.” He says studies show that children who learn English early will be more successful later. And, he says, focusing on English in the classroom will help the students learn the language faster. I’m Anne Ball.   Michael Lamon reported this story. Anne Ball produced it and Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section and on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   dual-language – n. being taught in two different languages courses – n. school class or program heritage – n. the traditions, achievements, beliefs, etc., that are part of the history of a nation or a group of people folks – n. people multiple – adj. many prioritize – v. to make something the most important in a group

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Obama Asks Muslim-Americans to Condemn Extremism

  President Barack Obama has asked Muslim-American leaders to condemn extreme Islam. Spokesman Josh Earnest said Monday that the president “would like to see leaders in the Muslim community stand up and speak out more forcefully in terms of condemning these hateful, radicalizing messages that we see from extremist organizations.” Earnest said Muslims “will be more effective if they are working in close partnership with the federal government, and with law enforcement, and with our counterterrorism professional,s and with our neighbors to fight” extremists. In a speech at the White House on Sunday, Obama said the Islamic State terrorist group “does not speak for Islam.” He said there are “millions of patriotic Muslim-Americans who reject their hateful ideology.” The president said “if we’re to succeed in defeating terrorism, we must enlist Muslim communities as some of our strongest allies, rather than push them away through suspicion and hate.” He called on Muslims to confront “without excuse” what he called the “real problem” of extremist ideology spreading within some of their communities. Mustafa El-Amin, the leader of a Muslim religious center in Newark, New Jersey, said he agreed with the president. El-Amin said that the Islamic State and other terrorist groups “do not speak for or represent Islam in any way.” He noted that many of the victims of terrorism around the world are Muslim. The president spoke in answer to violence last week in Southern California. Husband and wife Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik killed 14 people in a shooting attack. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation called them “radicalized.” One of Tashfeen’s few friends told the Washington Post newspaper that “she became so religious, so serious and so focused on Islamic teachings, and she lost her interest in her studies.” Some of the president’s political opponents said that the speech was disappointing and offered no new plans to fight the Islamic State group. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump called for a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.” He said “until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life.” A similar response is seen in France, where a French political party critical of Muslims won local elections. Candidates of the National Front party got the majority of votes in six of the country’s 13 regions. The final result will be decided in a second vote on Sunday. After the deadly terrorist attacks in Paris last month, party leader Marine Le Pen said France should stop accepting Muslim immigrants.  Conservative political parties have gotten support from voters throughout Europe in recent months. These parties often criticize immigrants and call for their countries to stop accepting refugees. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise. This story was reported by VOA White House Correspondent Aru Pande; Correspondents Pir Wilayat Shah and Arshad Hussain in Karor Lal Esan, Pakistan; Correspondent Henry Ridgwell in London and VOA Correspondent Ramon Taylor in New York. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted their reporting into VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   radicalize – v. to cause (someone or something) to become more radical (defined as “having extreme political or social views that are not shared by most people”) -- especially in politics ideology – n. the set of ideas and beliefs of a group or political party enlist – v. to get the support and help of (someone or something) confront – v. to oppose or challenge (someone) especially in a direct and forceful way horrendous – adj. very bad or unpleasant jihad – n. a war fought by Muslims to defend or spread their beliefs response – n. something that is done as a reaction to something else region – n. a part of a country or the world that is different or separate from other parts in some way  

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